Elvis Presley Recorded Live On Stage in Memphis March 20, 1974
March 20, 1974 - Elvis plays Memphis for the first time since 1961 and does four shows in two days to meet the demand for tickets. A live album results from the March 20 concert, Elvis Recorded Live On Stage in Memphis. Included is a live performance of How Great Thou Art that will go on to win Elvis his third Grammy award.
Elvis' Finale Taped For Release in June
Concert Date: March 20, 1974 (8.30 pm) Memphis, TN.
by James Kingsley
The Commercial Appeal
March 21, 1974
Elvis Presley ended his 15 city tour with a hometown performance recorded before 12,300 fans at the Mid-South Coliseum last night.
The recording is to be used for an album to be distributed by RCA-Victor.
Elvis Presley Let Me Be There live on stage March 20, 1974
Elvis Presley Let Me Be There live on stage March 20, 1974.
Elvis said he turned down requests from other cities on his current tour to record in order to save the recording show for his hometown fans.
The album, which will be released in early June, will have the songs, screams and cheers that were hallmark sat each of Presley's five Memphis concerts.
Microphones were set up inside and outside the Coliseum to capture the squeals of fans from the moment he drove up until he left. Microphones, connected to a $100,000 control board, also were on stage and in the audience.
Before facing his fifth sellout crowd in the Coliseum last night. Elvis said 'Man, I'm ready and prepared for this recording session.
I was a little worried for the first show last Saturday, but the audience knocked me out. They were great and I appreciated it.'
Presley and Felton Jarvis, his record producer, said there was some discussion about his recording at the Houston Astrodome and other cities.
'But I wanted to record a live session in my hometown of Memphis. After all this is where it all started out of me', Elvis said.
Elvis was backed up by 30 musicians and singers, including the Sweet Inspirations, a black trio, and a J.D. Sumner and The Stamps Quartet.
Selections included 'Teddy Bear', 'I Got A Woman', 'Don't Be Cruel', 'Hound Dog', 'Let Me Be There', 'Steamroller Blues', and his new song, 'Help Me'.
E.E. 'Bubba' Bland, Coliseum manager, ticket revenue from the live shows - each attended by 12,300 persons, totaled about $586,000. 'This is the largest gross show we have ever handled by far'
Bland was highly complimentary of the technical production of the Presley shows as well as of the performances and said the Coliseum would receive 'way in excess of $50,000' in fees.
Bland said there have been no discussions about a return engagement, 'That doesn't say that we are not hoping. We would try to put him in any time he wants to come back.'
Elvis' new engagements are at Lake Tahoe, Nev. in May and Las Vegas in August.
Elvis, 39, said he turned down requests from other cities on his current tour to record in order to save the recording show for his hometown fans.
Above link; Mid-South Coliseum ticket office manager Harry Brewer sorts through mail-order requests in January 1974 for tickets to three Elvis Presley concerts on March 16 and 17. Coliseum manager E.E. Bland said that 4,000 requests were received during the day and that the concerts are expected to sell out in a hurry.
Elvis Presley Live On Stage in Memphis | March 16, 1974
Elvis Presley Elvis Recorded Live On Stage in Memphis | March 17, 1974
Joe Esposito with Elvis Presley at the Memphis airport | March 18, 1974
Elvis Presley Recorded Live On Stage in Memphis | March 20, 1974
1974
March 1974
Elvis Presley with Oral Roberts | March 1, 1974
Elvis Presley Houston Astrodome | March 3, 1974
Elvis Presley March 6, 1974 | Montgomery, Alabama
Elvis Presley Ramada Hotel | Monroe Louisiana | March 7, 1974
Elvis Presley Ramada Hotel | Monroe Louisiana | March 8, 1974
Elvis Presley Live On Stage in Memphis | March 16, 1974
Elvis Presley Elvis Recorded Live On Stage in Memphis | March 17, 1974
Joe Esposito with Elvis Presley at the Memphis airport | March 18, 1974
Elvis Presley Recorded Live On Stage in Memphis | March 20, 1974
Elvis' 1974 Easter Television Special
May
Elvis Presley May 11, 1974 | Forum, Los Angeles, California
June
Elvis Presley Fort Worth Texas | June 15, 1974 | Evening Show
Elvis Presley Louisville, Kentucky | June 26, 1974
July
Elvis Presley giving a Karate demonstration in Memphis | July 4, 1974
Elvis Presley Memphis Southmen's football season opener | July 10, 1974
August
Elvis Presley, Linda Thompson, Jeanne LeMay, Lisa Marie | August 2 1974
Elvis Presley hand written Setlist for RCA Rehearsals | August, 1974
Elvis Presley with Jackie Wilson on August 20, 1974
Elvis Presley Las Vegas, Nevada, August 29, 1974
September
Elvis Presley and Vikki Carr, backstage at the Tropicana | September 5, 1974
Elvis Presley and Elias Ghanem, backstage at the Tropicana | September 5, 1974
Elvis Presley College Park, Maryland | September 28, 1974
October
Elvis Presley Detroit | Friday, October 4, 1974
Elvis Presley October 6, 1974 | University Of Dayton, Dayton
CDs | DVDs | Books
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Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD
Never before have we seen an Elvis Presley concert from the 1950's with sound. Until Now! The DVD Contains recently discovered unreleased film of Elvis performing 6 songs, including Heartbreak Hotel and Don't Be Cruel, live in Tupelo Mississippi 1956. Included we see a live performance of the elusive Long Tall Sally seen here for the first time ever. + Plus Bonus DVD Audio.
This is an excellent release no fan should be without it.
The 'parade' footage is good to see as it puts you in the right context with color and b&w footage. The interviews of Elvis' Parents are well worth hearing too. The afternoon show footage is wonderful and electrifying : Here is Elvis in his prime rocking and rolling in front of 11.000 people. Highly recommended.
Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD Video with Sound.
